Folding fowl-crate.



O. F. HUTCHISON.

FOLDING FOWL CRATE.

APPLIUATION FILED 11110.12, 1911.

1,036,535@ Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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0. F. HUTCHISON.

FOLDING POWL CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED M1112, 1911.

Patented Aug. 2'?, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPM co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.--

0. E'. HUTGHISON. PQLDING FOWL CRATE. APPLIOATION HLBD 1320.12, 1911.

Patented Aug-.27,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VLM @i COLUMBIA PMNOCIRAPI( CD" WASHINGTON, D. Ca'

sn'rns ,PATENT orricn.

ORA F. HUTGHISON, OF BRITTON, OKLAHOMA.

FOLDING FowL-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Application filed December 12, 1911. Serial No. 665,345.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, ORA F. HU'roHisoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Britton, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new andV useful Improvements in Folding `Fowl-Crates, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to folding fowl crates.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a fowl crate which may be easily and quickly arranged ina folded state so as to occupy a minimum space `during the shipment thereof when empty.

`A. further object of the invention resides in the provision of a folding crate of the character referred to which will be simple in construction, easily arranged in set up or folded position, and. which may be manu- With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in thel arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

\ In describing the invention in detail reference will bek had lto the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and inV which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, the same being shown setup; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the crate viewed oppositely to Fig. 1 with the crate shown in folded position, Fig. 3, a plan view of what is` shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 1, an end view of the crate set up, Fig. 5, a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, Fig. 6, a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7, a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, Fig. 8, a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 9, a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the bottom, B the slatted top, O one of the slatted ends and Dtheother slatted end. The bottom A is provided along its longitudinal edges with upwardly extending side portions 10 and 11 respectively. Rotatably mounted between the side portions 10 and 11 at one end of the latter is a rod12 which forms the pivot for the slatted end C whereby the latter may partake ofthe requisite swinging movement in the folding of the crate. The slatted top B also includes Patented Aug. 27, `1912.

downwardly extending side portions 13 and 14. respectively which have mounted there- 1n a rod 15 which extends through openings 16 1n the upper ends of the side portions `of the slatted end O. The ends of the rod 15 are extended beyond the side portions 13 1 and 14 respectively and rotatably mounted on these extensions respectively are the upper ends of bars 17 and 18 and the lower ends of these bars are mounted upon the rod 12, said bars being disposed in spaced relai tion to the adjacent side members ofV the end O as will be apparent.

-The end D of the crate is shown as including sidemembers 19 and 20, the former being disposed adjacent the inner face of the side portion 10 of the bottom and in spaced relation thereto, while the latter occupies a corresponding position with respect to the side portion 11 of the bottom. The lower end of the side member 19 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 21 suitably secured in the side portion 10 of the bottom. Likewise the lower end of the side member 20 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 22 suitably secured in the side portion 11 of the bottom.

23 and 24. are,Y directed toward the end C of the crate and are guided through eye members 25 and 26 respectively which are secured to and project outwardly from the side portions 13 and 14 respectively of the top B. The rods 23 and 24 are provided `respectively on their lower sides with cut- `away portions forming resultant shoulders 27 adapted to engage `respective eye members 25` and 26 in the setup position of the crate so as to lock the sections of said crate against `movement to folded position. The lower sides of the rods 23 and 24: are positively forced into engagement with respective eye members 2,5 and 26 by means of leaf springs 28 and 29 carried by respective rods 23 `and 24 and passing through respective eye members 25 and26 so as to engage the latter under tension.` The side portions of thecrateare completed by means of slats '30 and 31 the former of which has its terminals pivotally connected to the bar A17 and the side member 19 respectively, while the latter has its terminals pivotally con'-A nected to the bar 18 and the side member 20 respectively. The lower edges of the slats 30 and 31 are provided respectively with recesses 32 so 'positioned'thatV when the crate is folded said recesses will receive the rod 12 and ermit of complete folding ofthe crate. Likwisefthe lower edges of the side portions 13 and 14 of the top.. are provided withrecesses 33 so positioned that fc whenv the crate is "folded said recesses will receive the rod'12 to ing-ofthe crate. Y, v

In order that the crate may berlilled when the latter is set up,ad]'acentedges ofv a pair permit completeY fold-` .:v of'cross slats of the top are provided -re-V spectively with cutaway portions 24 and 25 toform an enlargedfopening. This opening is adapted to be closed by means of'a pivoted door 36 secured against theinner `face :of

one of the cross slats andmovable across 'the openingA formed by the cutaway portions 34:r and 35. Thisdoor may be secured in closing position by any suitable locking means.

- In `order to lock the crate in folded `position there is mounted on the `inner. 'face of the bottom A an eye member 37, while a hook 38Vis hung fromvone of thecross slats of the top B. The position of this lock' is such that when the crate is folded Vit may be readily engaged with the eye member 37 and `thus lock the crate againstrmovement to lset up position. f

In order to operate the crateV from the position shownin Fig. 1v to the .position shown in Fig. 2 itis only necessary to eledrawn by unscrewing the locking nuttherefrom,\so as to allow the .end C to fall and y thereof which will in turn elevate the top' B and cause the shoulders 27 to automatically engage the eye-members 25 and 26 to lock the crate set up. To remove the con#` tents of the crate quickly the rod 15 is'withthereby opening one end of the 'crate entirely. It ywill oflcourse be `understood that after the end C has fallen outwardly the rod 15 is .reapplied lto 'hold' the top B `in place.. The side portions 13-and14 of the top B are adapted to abut the ,uppermost Slat' of the end D when the partsof the crate are in full. set up position andithereby serve dto prevent movement of the end D ltoa Y posi*- tion 'beyond that assumed by said end when' the parts of the crate are set up.`

Y What is claimed is:

l.v A folding fowl crate, comprising a bottom section, end sections having their lower ends pivotally connected to said bottom section, a top section having its terminals pivotally, connected to the free ends of Vsaid end sections respectively, locking rods having Ycorresponding'ends pivotally connected to one of said end sections and their free ends directed towardithe other endsections, eye members mounted respectively on the sides of said top memberandtlrrough which lthe locking rods are adapted to slide respectively during the movementsof the sections of the crate, said locking rodsbeing provided. with `notches adapted toy be engaged by respective eye members when the A'crate is setup to lock the sections of the ylatter against movement to folded position, andv spring rmeans for? .holding said eye' members engaged insaid notches. Y

2. A folding fowl crate,'comprising a bottom section having upwardly directed side portions, a rod journaled between said side portions at oneend of the latter, an end section having vits lower end mounted on said rod, a-second fend section pivoted'ibetween the sidevportions of the bottom section at theirother end, said' second named end section including side members having U-shaped cross sections, a top sectionwhaving its'terminals pivotally connected .to the free ends of said end sections respectively,

said slats having ktheir terminalsv pivotally connected with corresponding side members of said end sections, locking rods having corresponding ends pivotally mountedi betweenthe arms of respective Urshaped side members of the second named end section, and

their free ends `directed toward the` other end section, eye-members mountedwrespectively onwthe sidesfofl said topsection and through whichthe locking rodsare adapted to slide during the pivotal-fmovement'of the sectionsof the crate, said locking ,rods being Vprovided respectively with notcheszadapted to be rengaged by respective eye members when the crate is setup to lock the sections of the latter againstl pivotal movement. to 5 folded position, and springmeans' for holding said eye members engaged 1in lsaid notches. 1

3. Afolding fowl crate, comprisinga bottom section, and sectionshaving theirflower ends pivotallyconnected'to said bottom section, a top section having its terminalspiv-` otally connected to the freeends of said end sections respectively,- locking lrods having correspondingI ends pivotally `connected to onefof said endsections and their freeends directed toward the other end section, eye members mountedA respectively- -on the l"sides of said top member-and through which the locking rods are adapted to slide' respectively during the movements of the sections of the crate, said locking rods being provided respectively With notches adapted to be engaged by respective eye members when the crate is set up to lock the sections of the latter against movement to folded position, a

leaf spring carried by each of said locking rods and adapted to engage respective eye members under tension in the set up position of the sections of the crate to force the locking rods against respective eye mem- 10 ORA F. HUTCHISON.

Witnesses A. W. MEYER, RALPH CROW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

